Itx system design, System time source, Back-up protection – Grass Valley iTX System v.2.6 User Manual
Page 28: System options
About the iTX system
License dongle
The Encode Server machine must have a hardware License key, or "dongle", inserted in one of
its USB slots. This authenticates the iTX software and allows you to use the software once the
License is registered in the iTX system.
Note: If there is no requirement to record media, the iTX system does not have to include an
Encode Server machine.
iTX system design
iTX systems can vary greatly in the number of Output Servers, Desktop Clients, Media Stores
and Encode Servers they contain. But, in general, every basic system is a variation of one of two
models. In one model, the main Media Store is a standalone device; in the other, the Media
Store is part of the Database Server machine.
System time source
The Time Service keeps time in an iTX system and distributes it to parts of the system that
require it; for instance, TXPlay, the playout service on the Output Server.
The time the service delivers is in the international time standard known as UTC (Universal
Time, Co-ordinated). To be able to supply the correct time, the Time Service needs to receive
an accurate time reference signal. It may get this from one of three sources:
•
A VITC input card connected to a VITC generator.
•
The PC clock on the Database Server machine.
•
An external NTP (Network Time Protocol) server.
If the reference signal is interrupted, the Time Service continues to keep time using an internal
system process, until the reference signal is restored.
The Time Service runs on a separate machine, the Time Server, in a system that uses a VITC
generator to provide a time reference signal. In a system with no VITC generator, it runs on the
Database Server machine.
Back-up protection
You can apply various levels of back-up protection to an iTX system.
System options
The iTX system software has modules for a variety of system options. These include:
•
Media acquisition features that enable iTX to access media content on Front Porch
Digital DIVArchives, Suitcase TV archives, Omneon Spectrum video servers and FTP
servers.
March 2015
System Administrator Guide
Page 28 of 404